Bitpanda Expands UK Operations with FCA Approval, Aligning with EU Offerings

Austrian cryptocurrency platform Bitpanda has secured regulatory approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), allowing it to expand its services in the region. The approval enables Bitpanda to offer over 500 cryptocurrency assets to UK investors, aligning its local offerings with its European operations.

FCA Greenlights Bitpanda’s UK Crypto Services

With FCA approval, Bitpanda can now provide a wide range of crypto services in the UK, including staking, savings plans, and crypto indexes. The firm announced the milestone on February 12, marking a significant expansion in one of the world’s leading financial markets.

“We currently have well over 500 cryptocurrencies listed on Bitpanda, which will make it the broadest range available to UK investors,” said Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, deputy CEO of Bitpanda, in an interview with Cointelegraph.

Re-Entry into UK Market After Regulatory Pause

Bitpanda’s UK expansion comes after the company temporarily halted onboarding new users in 2023, following regulatory changes in UK crypto marketing rules. The FCA’s stricter Financial Promotions (FinProm) Regime, introduced in October 2023, required firms to comply with enhanced advertising and disclosure standards.

During this period, existing Bitpanda customers in the UK were still able to access their accounts, though new user registrations were paused.

“With this new approval for brokerage services, we will be able to offer access to over 500 cryptocurrencies as well as staking, savings plans, and other services,” Enzersdorfer-Konrad confirmed.

While the firm’s UK retail expansion is new, Bitpanda has operated in the UK since 2021 as a registered crypto custody provider for business clients and has maintained a local team to support its operations.

Bitpanda’s UK Offerings Mirror EU Market Structure

Bitpanda’s expansion into the UK follows its recent regulatory success in the European Union. On January 23, 2025, the company secured a license under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework, enabling it to operate across all 27 EU member states under a unified regulatory regime.

Enzersdorfer-Konrad emphasized that Bitpanda’s UK crypto offerings will closely align with its EU services, without introducing any UK-specific tokens.

“Our range is constantly expanding, with over 100 new coins listed last year alone,” he stated. “While we’ll always look to provide the best possible range of cryptocurrencies to our users, there are no plans currently to list UK-specific coins. Therefore, our crypto offer in the UK won’t differ from that in the EU.”

Bitpanda Will Not List Tether’s USDT in the UK or EU

As MiCA regulations tighten oversight on digital assets, several major exchanges, including Coinbase, Crypto.com, and Kraken, have begun delisting certain tokens to remain compliant. Among these is Tether’s USDT, the largest stablecoin by market capitalization.

Bitpanda confirmed that it will not offer USDT to its clients in the UK or the EU, in line with regulatory guidelines.

Bitpanda Strengthens Its Position in the European Crypto Market

With FCA approval secured, Bitpanda is now positioned to expand its footprint in the UK, leveraging its strong regulatory framework and broad asset offerings. The move reinforces the firm’s strategy of providing secure and compliant digital asset services while aligning with evolving regulatory landscapes in the UK and Europe.